Fishing With A Popping Cork, Inshore Saltwater?
I do a lot of fishing for speckled trout/red drum in the florida panhandle and have heard that a popping cork will work good with live shrimp or gulp. Here’s my dilemma, I cant keep the dang thing on my line. Ive lost 5 of them last time i went out. I even had an old salt show me how but it slips off the line every time. I get them out there pop’em a few times, get a hug bite and the cork pops right off. The ones Ive been using and getting bites on are the 3-4 inch ones with a cup on the top, beads inside, with the pin running through the middle. I pull the pin run the line through the center put the pin back in and wrap the line a few times on the top and bottom. Im using a med-heavy action rod and reel combo with 20lb spiderwire braid, 24-36 inch 20lb fluorocarbon leader connected to the main line by a barrel swivel and a 1/0 – 2/0 hook. Its also awkward to cast with the poping cork sitting above the leader. Is there a better way to rig the popping cork so that it is easier to cast? Is there a better way to keep the cork on the line? Im getting huge bites and reeling in big fish but am losing my cork every time. When I run out of corks I have to wade waist deep and toss the mirrolure but id rather just toss the popping cork out from the beach (bayside) pop open a cold one and pop the cork a while.
First off, you said that you’re using spider wire as the main line and 24-36″ of leader. Where’s the top shot? The top shot is 12-18 feet of monofilament equal to or slightly heavier than your main line. This is then connected to your leader using a knot of your choice to connect both lines without using a swivel.
The problem may be that your spider wire is too slippery from the teflon coating and it’s just sliding off the plastic pin. The top shot which is mono will create more drag and keep it from slipping off the pin. If you prefer not to use a top shot) then you can resort to using rubber bands. Find the depth you want the cork to be. Remove the pin and where you marked your depth, take a rubber band and wrap the line and the rubber band around the pin until the rubber band is tight. Take your main line and wrap the pin a few times across the length of it and re-insert it into the cork making sure the rubber band is snug against the cork itself. Take another rubber band and wrap the pin at the bottom and make sure it’s snug against the cork. This will create the friction needed to stop the cork from falling off. It’s a lot of work but it works.
Another thing you asked was for an easier way to get the cork to cast because it’s awkward to cast such a long leader. Well there has to be a compromise because you can’t get the cake and eat it too ( making it pop and getting a better cast.) But you can get a taste of that cake and the easiest way is to use Spro swivels. These swivels are very small but super strong so it’s harder to detect in the water by fish and cut offs are less by attacking fish wanting a swivel dinner. For example, I am using a 3 foot leader. I will mark my line at 5 feet to allow for knots and screw ups ( It happens.) I cut the line and then tie on a Spro swivel. I re-attach the line I cut to the swivel and then add a small bead ( many prefer red or orange, I use clear, green, brown and blue for all my dirty work. I try to match the water color.) I insert the line through the pin ( if it’s hollow) and then mark my leader half way. Cut the line again, add a bead first (clear only) then tie on the swivel. Tie on the rest of the line, but there’s a trick, use a jig head with a 1/0 hook as your hook. This will be your weight and hook at the same time. Hook a live shrimp through the head just behind the horn missing the brain and you’re good to go. Here’s what happens, when you go to make the cast, you cut in half the length of the leader as the cork drops to the bottom, easier casting. As the bait hits the water, the line is pulled from the weight of the jig head until it hits the top bead which in turn gives you a full 3 foot leader under the cork. Slowly reel the line in until the cork hits the bottom bead and give it a pop. This raises the bait and allows it to drop again when you give slack line. It’s a great fishing technique but again, takes some time to make.
I could tell ya about the tooth pick deal also but it’s best to leave that up to your imagination.~good luck catchin’.
Get the popping cork that has a swivel at the top and a snap swivel at the bottom. Just clip you leader to the bottom and the only way you will lose you cork is to break your line.. I have on several occasions had red fish actually hit my popping cork !!!
Here’s what you want to cast- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores…
(make sure to read the reviews on this cork system)
Like Mongo suggested- Attach one end to your main-line and then use a 2FT Flurocarbon leader on the other.
Popping corks use “sound” to attract Spec’s and Reds to your lure or bait so don’t be so concerned about length of leader- 3FT-4FT being the LONGEST leader you would want to use, (2-2 1/2 FT being about perfect). Fluro leaders are VERY important in shallow clear water popping cork fishing…….12LB-14LB being my favorite size.
Hope this helps ya? Good luck.